Humor

Wherever we go and whatever we do, a certain element of dangerous excitement and caution follows us with extreme prudence. Especially when caught up in one "little white lie," the result of being caught can be anything but little. Similarly, the "love" we proclaim every night to our parents diminishes ever so slightly when not in their presence. Such is evident in Alain de Botton's novel Kiss and Tell. In it, the young, twenty-something narrator is attending a play with his girlfriend, Isabel, when she spots her parents in the theater with them. With phrases and comedic diction such as "maniac," and "let them shut up," as well as the contradicting thoughts of Isabel and actions of her parents make for this passage to be a familiar tale that all have encountered at one unfortunate point or another.
The tale begins with Isabel spotting her mother, and upon recognition of her outfit, comments that the dress "looks like a willow tree" (lines 5-6). This situation quickly changes from...